Our Mexican Camino: Ending MS and Finding New Life: March 25, 2017: Day +25

Saturday, March 25, 2017

March 25, 2017: Day +25

It has been so nice having Scotti here this weekend. It is nice to have someone else in the house and someone to share this journey we are on. When I awoke this morning I called Doug to check on him and to find out what his schedule was for the day. Since it is Saturday he had only one therapy scheduled at 1:00. But he encouraged me to spend time with Scotti today and enjoy some relaxing time with my friend. He was doing fine and looking forward to getting some rest today.

Scotti helped me today test some of the equipment that I had gotten for Doug. We played some with the new Hoyer lift to see how it could be moved around the house and practiced using it. I ordered a new bedspread for our new bed. And spent some time browsing the Internet reviewing local companies to hire a personal care provider for Doug. I appreciated having her here for her company and moral support for this new journey. We also enjoyed some time sipping coffee and visiting. It was nice to have a Saturday morning at home.

We went to breakfast at about noon at the new Griddle restaurant in Nampa. Scotti and I have a long history of eating crepes together and found raspberry crepes on the menu. We delighted in continuing a long tradition of eating crepes together on a Saturday morning. And it turns out that the co-owner of the Griddle, the wife, has MS All the staff had on orange MS shirts. They are fundraising for the MS Society. Last year they raised $26,000. Pretty impressive. We were gratified to be having breakfast in a restaurant that is supporting MS.

Then we went to Home Depot. Scottie helped me to exchange the shower head I had purchased the day before and pick out new ones today. I had forgotten that we have brushed nickle in the bathroom instead of stainless steel While there, I met a woman I had worked with in the Nampa School District 15 years ago. She has been working at the Home Depote for the past 14 years. It was nice to catch-up with her and she helped us to pick out some new shower heads.

Scotti and I have spiritual journeyed for many years together. We did a pilgrimage to Rome last year together. We both like movies and she suggested we go to see The Shack together. I had read the book and thought it was a great idea. So off we went to the movie. We both enjoyed it and spent the rest of the day talking about it and what it meant. That was fun.

We promised Doug we would pick-up Mexican food for dinner and so we did. We took it to Doug and spent the rest of the evening eating and visiting with him. It is really fun to be with old friends. We have so much history together and have shared so much of each others lives. I am so grateful she came for the weekend and that Doug gave me the space to have time with her.

Angie came over while we were gone and took the bedroom door and trim off to give Doug more room to manuver a wheelchair into our bedroom. I am grateful for that help. She also brought over her dog Cody and cat Nuca. They are going on a vacation to southern Utah for spring break and need me to take care of them. I am thankful to have pets in the house again. Poor Cody is confused though, not having his friend Stryder here to be with. I know exactly how he feels. I feel that way too. Stryder has been gone a week and I sure miss him.

It is only 6 days now until Doug comes home. And so we pray:

Holy God, the Great I Am, I Was, and I Will Be, we thank you for your presence in our lives, and for your continual calling of us into relationship with you. We thank you for friends who travel with us, helping us to discern that calling. We thank you for the joy we feel in the sharing of your spirit. As the day comes closer for Doug's homecoming, be with us, so that we might be prepared for a successful transition. And Holy God, we ask you to be with Doug. Make his legs strong so that he may walk and give him skills to help him to care for his own needs so that he might be more and more independent, so to enrich his life and that he might serve you. In your name we ask it. Amen

1 comment:

UnknownMarch 27, 2017 at 5:16 AM
My prayers are with you from Omaha. May your week go well
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About Doug

Fr. Doug Yarbrough was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2008. Although judging from his MRI scans he probably had it for many years prior to his diagnosis. Since the diagnosis he has experienced continuous progression of the disease resulting in more and more disability.

Today he is dependent on an electric wheelchair to get around outside of his home. At home he uses a walker to walk short distances. His eyes loose focus easily and he cannot read. This is difficult for someone who has always been a voracious reader and life long learner. He experiences extreme fatigue. Most days it is all he can do to just take care of his own personal needs. We are grateful he can do that and fear the day that he will loose these skills. But with the progression of this disease that day may not be far off.

This is not the person Fr. Doug has always been. Many will remember him as an active member of his family, church, community and state. He is an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church. As a priest and community leader he has been a passionate crusader working on behalf of the poor, the abused, the homeless and minorities. He has been a husband, a father and a grandfather. He has always been the person who helps others.

Fr. Doug is a learner and believes in education to serve the common good. He has a B.A. in Education and Philosophy, a Master's in Counseling and a Master's in Religion. He has a doctorate in Educational Psychology. His education nurtured his thirst for learning, to make God known to the world and to serve others in the example of Christ. His favorite Bible passage is from Micah 6:8. In the New English Language Version of the Bible it reads "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" These words have framed his work in the church and the world.

In 2005 he was awarded the Canyon County Humanitarian Award for his contributions, care and concern for the most needy and marginalized people in Canyon County. He chaired the Nampa Shelter Coalition board and was on this board for many years. He also served for many years on the Nampa Family Justice Center and the Idaho State Domestic Violence Boards. He founded the Open Arms Baby Boutique in Nampa. This is a resource center for low-income women. The women earn points for prenatal and postnatal check-ups. They may then trade the points in for diapers, baby clothes, furniture, etc. He was on the "Success by Six" Treasure Valley committee. Fr. Doug served on the Mercy Hospital Ethics Board. All this he did while pastoring a church and serving on many church boards and committees.

After many years of service, Fr. Doug is now in need of your help. He is in the fight of his life to stop the progression of this horribly debilitating disease. Up until now, there has been little hope, but upon returning from a pilgrimage of prayer for healing we learned of a new stem cell treatment that some are calling a cure. This treatment is HSCT (Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant). Using this treatment the patient's own stem cells are harvested, then the patient's immune system is killed using chemotherapy and then the patient's own stem cells are transplanted back into their body. It works similarly to a reboot of a computer. The immune system is being rebooted. This treatment is in Clinical Trials in the United States, but in other places in the world it is being used as a treatment for MS. Worldwide data shows that more than 80% of MS patients receiving this treatment see an end to the progression of the disease and many see a reversal in disability. The brain is able to heal from the bodies own attacks on the myelin insulating sheath around that surrounds nerve fibers

Unfortunately HSCT treatment is expensive and not yet covered by insurance. To get this treatment he will have to travel outside of the country. To help pay for this treatment family and friends of Father Doug are raising money to help pay for uninsured medical expenses associated with HSCT (HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANT) to halt the progression of his Multiple Sclerosis. We don’t have time to wait for Clinical Trials in the US. Fr. Doug is rapidly progressing in disability from this disease. We have to act now if we are to save and hopefully improve the quality of Fr. Doug’s life. We have a goal of October 15, 2016 to raise all the money needed. This is the earliest possible date that the treatment may be available.

Fr. Doug has chosen to fund-raise with HelpHOPELive in part because HelpHOPELive assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for donors. Donors can be sure that funds donated will be used only to pay for unreimbursed medically related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Donate Now button.

For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399.

Thank you and God Bless you for your help!

Saturday, March 25, 2017

March 25, 2017: Day +25

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